Many families have a minhag to light as many Shabbos candles as there are members in the immediate family. Nevertheless says the Maamar Mordechai even if one lights many candles, two candles should stand out in order to keep with the original minhag of lighting one for "Zachor" and one for "Shamor". Some people accomplish this by using a combination of a candelabra as well as two candle sticks equaling the sum total of family members. The Shevet HaKehosi says that there is also a minhag to light two candles in addition to the amount of members in the immediate family. (Piskei Tshuva OC 263:1)
Anonymous, 2010-04-30 03:23:09 I've looked for the minhag of lighting one additional candle for every family member but did not see it brought down anywhere, except the Shmiras Shabbos Kehilchaso in footnote brings from someone that it's because of the halacha that the first Friday night after giving birth the mother does not light, and it's for that missed lighting that she makes up every subsequent week. Anybody have any background here?
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